Maria Catalina M. Tolentino, PhD, is a distinguished academic leader and Professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP SOLAIR). With a career spanning decades, she has established herself as a leading expert in Organization Development (OD), human resource management, and labor policy.

Dr. Tolentino is widely recognized for her research on the complexities of the Philippine labor market, particularly regarding contractualization, labor migration within Southeast Asia, and the advancement of "Green Jobs" in the manufacturing sector. Her work frequently bridges the gap between academic theory and practical application, focusing on how shifting organizational cultures and mindsets can foster workplace creativity and resilience in the face of global industrial changes.

In addition to her research, she has held significant administrative roles, including serving as the College Secretary and Officer-in-Charge Dean of UP SOLAIR. A dedicated educator, she coordinates graduate programs and has authored essential texts, such as the Guide to Social Research for Students and Practitioners, to mentor the next generation of industrial relations professionals.

She holds a PhD in Organization Development from the Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute (SAIDI), an MA in Asian Studies, and a BA in Communication from UP Diliman. Her holistic approach—combining cultural insights with structural labor analysis—continues to influence national discourse on worker welfare and sustainable enterprise development in the Philippines.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• Tolentino, Maria Catalina M. (2023). “Mindsets and Skills as Determinants to Organizational Culture Change” from Philippine Journal of Labor and Industrial Relations, Vol. 33, No. 1-2.  

• Tolentino, Maria Catalina M. (2023). “Labor Migration to Singapore and Malaysia: Trends, Policies and Future of OFWs” from Philippine Journal of Labor and Industrial Relations, Vol. 33, No. 1-2. 

• Tolentino, Maria Catalina M. (2021). “Viewpoint: Human Resources as the Greatest Assets in Work Organizations” from Philippine Journal of Labor and Industrial Relations, Vol. 32, No. 1-2.  

• Tolentino, Maria Catalina M. (2021). “Changing Organizational Culture: Developing Creativity in a Govt Workplace” from UP Asian Center Lecture Series / Public Policy Monograph, p. 1-15.  
  
  

• Tolentino, Maria Catalina M. (2021). “Connectivity Among Overseas Filipino Worker Families Thru Communication and Remittances” from Selected Papers on Labor and Migration Research, UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations.